Wichita Falls, TX- Marian Barker and Jewell Malick are tied for the lead after the first round of the 2015 Women’s Senior Stroke Play Championship at Wichita Falls Country Club. The pair shot matching 77s, 6-over par, to lead by one.

Marian Barker, Lubbock, played the first eight holes at 5-over before she made her first birdie on the 270 yard par four, ninth. She continued that momentum as she played the back nine at 2-over par. She added another birdie on the difficult par four, 16th to co-lead by one.

Jewell Malick, Rockwall, used two birdies on the ninth and eleventh holes to match the lead of Barkers’. Jewell who started on the third hole bogeyed four of her opening six holes before she birdied her next two of three.

Carolyn Creekmore, Dallas, and Carol Turnage, Anna, trail by one after rounds of 7-over par, 78. Creekmore, playing in the same group as Barker, had two birdies to remain close with lead. Turnage didn’t record a birdie but her eight pars in a row on the back side helped keep her in contention.

Six women in total are within four shots of the lead. In that group is the 2013 and 2014 Women’s Senior Stroke Play Champion, Anna Shultz. Her 10-over par, 81 will put her in running to win her third straight title.

Players fought against gust as high as 40mph today during the opening round and therefore scores were on the higher end. With a calm day forecasted for Round 2, scoring conditions should be optimal.

Play will begin again tomorrow with a shotgun start at 8:30. After the second round concludes players will be divided into three flights based on their 36-hole scores. For full results please click here.

ABOUT THE Texas Women's Senior Stroke Play

Eligibility: Entries are open to female amateur
golfers with a
certified GHIN
Handicap Index, and who are 50 years of age or
older by the first
round of the
Championship.

Player Field: The starting field will consist of 96
players. In the
event the
championship becomes over-subscribed, entries will
be accepted in
order of
handicap index.

Format: The championship will be a 54 hole stroke
play
championship. Upon
completion of Round 2, the field will be broken into
flights based on
36-hole scores.